Parachute



Nov. 8, 1955 H. BERCKMLLER PARACHUTE Filed Nov. 20, 1951 United StatesPatent" 2,723,094 PARACHUTE Heinz Berckmller, Karlsruhe, Durlach,Germariy Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,269

12 Claims. (Cl. 244-445) The present invention relates to parachutes.

Parachutes of the type -known before comprise, in general, long,pointed, triangular panels, very frequently twentyeight in number,stitched together over their emtire long-1h to form the actual parachuteand provided with the necessary cords. in the case of these familiarpaneltype parachutes the lowest operational altitude is betweenapproximately seventy and eighty meters. In constructing parachutesattempts have constantly :been made to reduce the operational altitudeto a minimum, and yet, until the presemt time no practical type hassucceeded in achieving an altitude of less than seventy meters, apartfrom a few exceptional performances. The present world record forexample is said -to be on the order of sixtythree meters.

The object of the. invention is to recluce considerably the presentoperational altitude.

Ibis object is achieved by the provision of a plurality of individualminor parachutes or cells which, broadly speakimg are joined together,preferably at the corners. For this purpose the minor parachutes are ofhexagonal shape so that they may corne into direct contact with eachother without leaving any superfluous space. The entire parachute isconsequently hexagonal.

It has been proved that, with such a parachute, a jump can be made froman altitude of approximaely thirty meters in horizontal flight.

Further details and advantages of the invention will appear from thedescription which is rendered below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing an embodiment in diagrammatic representation to givean example. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 shows the released parachute in plan view, with the individualcells or minor parachutes inflated, and certain details indicated inconnection With one cell; and

Fig. 2 shows a simplified diagrammatic side view in section of thereleased parachute, as seen approximate]y along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The parachute according to the invention comprises a plurality,preferably thirty-seven individual small hexagonal minor parachutes orcells 7 as may be clearly seen from Fig. 1. The number thirty-sevem isnecessarily arrived at by the fact that four individual cells werechosen to form each side of the hexagonal parachute proper. Each cellhas a width preferably of one meter as calculated between any twoparallel sides and a width of 1.15 meters between the apices of twoopposed corners.

The invention is of course mot limited to the figures given regardingnumber and dimensions of the cells. These figures give only aparticularly suitable combination for the weight of a person of averagesize.

The individual cells 7 are joined only at the corners abutting 1, forexample by sewing, while the sides extendimg from such corners are freethroughout their entire lengths. It is due to this characteristic of theinvention that the parachute is particularly easy of release, wherebythe operational altitude, as compared With that of the traditional typeof parachute is fundamentafly reduced. The minor parachutes or cells areabruptly exposed over their entire surface to the air current and arethereby practicaly instantameously expanded.

Each individual cell actimg as a minor parachute bas, correspondimg toits six corners, six minor shroud lines 8 each of which leads .from oneof the six corners of the individual cell as may be seen from Fig. 2.Each cell is cut from one piece and is therefore seamless. The-six minorshroud limes for each cell result from three continuous limes each ofwhich .enters at one corner of the corresponding cell and emerges at theopposite corner as indicated in dotted limes in Fig. 1. The three cortinuous limes cross in the center of the cell. They are -by preferencecovered bystrips of material about three centimeters Wide, shown in Fig.1 in connection with one of the cells, situated on theuppersurfiacetherecf and are overstitched. The.poimt where all threecontinuons limes cross is protected, for example by means of a cap, alsoimdicated in Fig. 1, which is stitched on top. It-would be inadvisableto attach six separate minor shroud limes directly -to each minorparachute or cell since these might tear .of incident to the opening ofthe parachute comprising the cells.

A suitable lemgth for the minor shroud lines 8 two meters as calculatedfrom the corners 1 where these shroud limes -emerge from thecorresponding cells to the point 2 where they meet. The thickness of thecord used for the minor shroud limes should .be about two millimeters.The minor shroud limes are disposed at the cormers .of the minorparachutes to ensure thateach .remains in its :prescribed position.Entangling of the small minor parachutes is thereby avoided. The minorshroud limes 8 are -firmly bound to the main shroud limes .3 at thepoint 2 where the former meet. The-main shroud lines 3 are in turnrigidly ;gathered together and bound by a suitable casing 4 and emergebelow :as two guide cords 5. The length of the ;main.shroud limes .3 isapproximately .six meters from the point 2 where the minor shroud limes8 meet to the cross piece 4., ther thickness being about fivemillimeters. v

The casing 4 has a length of about fifteen centimeters. The length ofthe two;guide cords 5 may be on the order of fiftvcemtimeters. At theends of the guide cords 5 are snap hoo-ks 6 of suitable size forfastening the parachute to the harness. T0 sum up therefore, the thirtyseven individual cells of the parachute have thirtysevem main shroudlimes 3 and six times thirty-seven, that is, two hundred and twenty-twominor shroud limes 8.

The parachute can be packaged in a container measuring fifty bythirty-five by ten centimeters (50 x 35 x 10 cm.). The procedure forpackimg the parachute differs from that of the tfaditiomal panelparachute. While in the latter case each fabric panel must be carefullyfolded over the mext in packing in order to ensure successful release,the procedure in the case of the new parachute according to theinvention is simpler and speedier.

The new parachute is completely spread out on a clean surface and theguide cords 5 fastened to a line and drawn upwards; The main shroudlimes 3 and the minor shroud limes 8 are thus extended and theindividual cells consequently automatcally fold together. The suspendedassembly of the cells or minor parachutes is gathered together in thearms of the operator and packed in the corresponding container, in asimilar manner as in the case of a conventional parachute. The packimgof the new parachute is therefore extremely simple. It is merelynecessary to raise the structure by means of a line attached to theguide cords to fold it automatically in a few seconds so as to obtainthe desired package. The new parachute is completely packaged in fiveminutes as compared motion of the traditional type of parachute issbstamtially avoided and a surprisimgly gentle lamding is emsured.

Upon collapse ofthe parachute on the ground, after the descemt, theindividual hexagonal cells separate alomg their sides between theabutting and comnected corners and it is therefore impossible for aircurrents to drag the parachute alomg the ground for amy considerablcdistance as it can happen With the conventiomal type of parachute withfab ric panels stitcned together and forming a dome-shaped structure inwhich air currents cam catch upom lamding.

If an individual cell is damaged, it can be replaced simply andspeedily.

Finally, the risk of accident due to the tearing of an individual cellor of a main or a miner shroud line, is very remote because theremaining cells are mutually supporting.

I claim:

1. A parachute comprising a plurality of individual equiamgularhexagonal cells assembled together in edge wise relationship to form asymmetrical structure which extemds in spread-out condition in a commonplane in which the apices of any three imteriorly disposed individualcells are in abutment with corresponding -apices of the respectiveadjacent cells, an individual miner shroud line extemdimg from each apexof each cell totaling six individual minor shroud lines extemdimg fromeach cell, said individual miner shroud limes beimg of equal length, amain shroud lime for each six individual miner shroud limes which isjoined therewith at the ends thereof and extemds therefrom, meams forgathering said main shroud limes at a common point remote from the endsof said individual shroud limes, and guide cords connected with andextending from said main shroud limes.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said symmetrical structureis a gemerally hexagonal structure.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, comprising means for fixedlyjoiming said individual cells omly at the abutting apices thereof.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, comprising thirtyseven of saidindividual cells, each of said cells having a width across each pair ofparallel sides which amounts to about 1 meter. v

5. The structure defined in claim 1, comprising thirtyseven of saidindividual cells, each cell having a width across each pair of parallelsides which amounts to about 1 meter, and each cell measurimg betweeneach pair of opposite apices about 1.15 meter.

6. The structure defined in claim 1, comprising threc limes for eachindividual cell, each of said three limes entering its associated cellat one apex and traversing said cell and leaving it at the opposite apexthereof to form said individual miner shroud limes extending from saidapices.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, wherein said three limes crosscentrally of the associated cell, and a cap se cured centrally of saidcell over the crossing point of said limes.

8. The structure defined in claim 6, comprising strips et materialsecured to said cell and extending thereacross, one such strip extemdingacross said cell between each two apices thereof and overlying the linewhich traverses said cell between the respective apices.

9. The structure defined in claim 8, comprising a cap disposed centrallyof each cell and fastencd thereto t0 secure said limes where theyintersect on their path traversimg said cell.

10. The structure defimed in claim 1, wherein the length of eachindividual mimer shroud line is about 2 meters and wherein the length ofeach main shroud line is about 6 meters,

11. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein each individual minershroud line has a diameter of about 2 millimeters and a length of about2 meters and wherein each main shroud line has a diameter of about 5millimeters and a length of about 6 meters.

12. The structure defined in claim 1, comprising meams carried by saidguide cords for securing them to a suitable parachute harness.

Refercnces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,361,540 Forbes Oct. 31, 1944 2,421,167 Smith May 27, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS 28,882 France Jan. 12, 1925 (Additional to 562,279) 162,029Switzerland May 31, 1933 562,279 France Aug. 31, 1923

